New Basic School: Kitsune Scout School [Bushi] Like many other Shugenja Schools, the Kitsune family

suffers from the declining number of Shugenja, and unfortunately, the family holdings are somewhat isolated from the rest of the Mantis power bases which might force the Kitsune to find a way to defend themselves in the case of an attack until reinforcements from the Yoritomo and Tsuruchi come. These two tendencies have led to a shift towards a more martial orientation of the former Fox Clan. The creation of the Kitsune Scout School is one of the major results of this trend. The school focuses on reconnaissance and survival skills, and has created an impressively large number of competent bushi in the last years. One of the reasons why the School became so successful despite its young age is that in many ways, the School's teachings are not so much new as they are a codified and streamlined version of the age-old tactics and teachings of the Kitsune's warriors. The Kitsune Scouts are experts in moving through rough terrain and dense underbrush and are very competent to fight within thick forests like their homeland of the Kitsune Mori. Benefit: Agility +1 Skills: Athletics, Hunting (Tracking), Investigation, Kenjutsu, Kyujutsu, Stealth, any one Skill Honor: 4.5 Outfit: Light Armor, Sturdy Clothing, Daisho, Yumi and 20 arrows, Traveling Pack, 5 koku Katas: The Kitsune Bushi School teaches the Disappearing World Style and the Veiled Menace Style. Techniques: Rank 1: The Way of the Fox The Kitsune warriors are used to move through forests and deep undergrowth without much trouble. You suffer no penalties to movement or skill rolls from moderate or difficult terrain. Additionally, you may add +1k0 to all School Skill Rolls when in a rural or wild environment; however you do not gain this bonus while you are in the Shadowlands. Rank 2: White Fox Technique Like a fox who goes for the throat of his prey, the Kitsune Bushi learn to make precise attacks. You need one Raise less for a Called Shot or a knockdown maneuver (but still at least one Raise), and you may add +1k0 to the damage rolls total when using these maneuvers. Rank 3: Whisper Behind Leaves The Kitsune warrior move through dense wood with incredible speed while making almost no sound at the same time and leave almost no tracks. You may move as if your Water Ring was one Rank higher, and all Investigation (Notice) or Survival (Tracking) Rolls made to notice, detect or follow you need an additional Raise to succeed. Rank 4: Swift as a Fox When the Scouts of the former Fox Clan attack, they attack quickly and ferocious. You can make melee attacks as a Simple Action instead of a Complex Action when you wield a weapon with the Samurai keyword. You may spent a Void point to make attacks with any other weapon

(including unarmed strikes and bows) for one turn as Simple Actions as well. Rank 5: The Ninetail's Dance One of the most potent techniques the Kitsune bushi learn, is how to knock down an enemy and then attack him as fast as possible before he has a chance to get up again. When you successfully use a Knockdown maneuver against a foe, you may make another attack against the same target as a free action. This additional attack gets +2k1 bonus to damage. Advanced School: Kitsune Beastmaster [Bushi] Requirements: Rings/Traits: Air 4, Perception 4 Skills: Animal Handling 4, Hunting 4, Lore: Animal Spirits 3 Advantages: Osusuki & Akomachi Ancestor, Inaris Blessing or Touch of Chikushudo, Way of the Land (Kitsune Mori) Techniques: Rank 1: The Kitsune Beastmaster receives one animal to which he is spiritually bonded. While at least one of the two is still alive, the other is considered to have the Great Destiny advantage. The Beastmaster can buy additional stances of Great Destiny to expand the number of animals bonded to him with this technique. Normally, only foxes, falcons, horses or wolves bond with a Beastmaster, but the GM can allow other kinds of animals as well. Instances of particularly weak or small animals like bats, squirrels and others of this power level can actually represent a small family of such animals, with 2-4 individuals, or a small group of different such animals. Rank 2: Every time a Kitsune Beastmaster is fighting side by side with his animals, he gets a +2k0 to attack rolls and +5 to Armor TN. All Beastmasters bonded animals receive a bonus equal to his Insight Rank to their Reduction, rolled dice to skill, attribute and attack rolls and twice to their Armor TN. Rank 3: The bond of the Beastmaster and his animal brothers grows to such levels that they become more spiritual entities than man and beasts. You gain the Child of Chikushudo Advantage and your bonded animals gain a Void Ring at the same level as yours. Your animals can also speak with any person, not only you.